Alabm-gage



C. M. FISK.

ALARM GAGE.

APPLICATION mm 0 denied Wt 21, 1919.

fla Znvenibr Witnesses Attcrncys CASSIUS M. FISK, OF NAPOLEON, OHIO.

ALARM-GAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 21, 1919.

Application filed December 8, 1917. Serial). 206,310.

in view of the forego1ng,'one object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby a signal will be operated when the liquid in the tank has fallen to an undesirable level.

The invention aims to provide novel means for mounting the float 'adjustably on the plunger; to provide novelmeans whereby the opening in which the plunger slides, will he closed when the plunger is at the limit of its upward stroke or its downward stroke; to improve the construction of the arm which carries the bridge whereby an electrical circuit is closed to actuate the signal; and to provide novel means for mounting the arm and controlling the movement thereof.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

. The drawing discloses a typical embodiment of the invention, merely, and changes falling within the skill of a mechanic may be made without departing from the spirit of what, essentially, has been invented.

In'the drawings: Figure 1 shows in cross section, a container whereunto the structure forming the subject matter of this application has been applied; Fig. 2 is a fragmental top plan wherein parts are indicated diagrannnatically; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1, distant parts being omitted.

The invention comprises a container including a tank 1 having an outlet Q'and pro vided at its top with a nipple 3 on which a cap 1 is threaded or otherwise secured removably. A tubular guide 5 is fixed in the cap 4 and includes a flange 6 projecting exteriorly of the cap. A tube 7 is secured to the cap 1 and extends downwardly'into the tank 1 about the inner end of the guide 5.

A plunger 8, which may be a rigid rod, slides in the guide and is threaded at its lower end, as shown at 9. The threaded part 9 of the plunger 8 passes through a float 10 which may If the float 10 is made of cork, a metal plate 11 is attached by screws 12 to the float, the part 9 of the plunger 8 being threaded into the plate. A lock nut 14: is mounted on the lower end of the plunger 8 and holds the float 10 in place. the float 10 on the plunger 8 may be adjust- The vertical position of be variously constructed. 1

ed by rotating the float, the float being held in its adjusted position by means of the lock nut 14:. An abutment 15 is fixed on the plunger. 8 and includes a resilient or yieldable -washer 16 which is pressed against the lower end 01: the guide 5 when the plunger is raised by the action of the float 10.. A pair of retainers is mounted on the exposed end of the plunger 8, one retainer being in the form-of an inverted cup 17 secured to the plunger, and the other retainer being in the form of a nut.18 threaded on the plunger. hen the plunger 8 descends to its limit, the cup 17 houses the projecting flange 6 of the guide 5.

The numeral 19 marks an angular arm made of insulating material and including a depending end 20. The exposed end of the plunger 8 passes through the arm 19, the cup 17 and the nut 18 holding the arm firmly but reinovably on the plunger. The arm 19 is' supplied. .with a vertical opening 21 through which a guide rod 22 passes slidably, the lower end of the guide rod being secured as shown at 23 to the tank 1 at one side of the nipple 3; A box-like ,metal casing or bridge 24: is attached by means of the securing element 25 to the lowermost portion of the end 20 of the arm 19.

A base member 2-6, made of insulating finaterial, 1s secured. by means of attaching elements 27 to the tank 1 and includes an. up-

' standing lug 28, conductors 29 being inserted removably into one side of the base member. The base member 26 and, more specifically, thelug 28 thereof, carries con tact terminals 30 which maybe in the form of screws threaded into the lug 2S and engaging the conductors 29. The lug 28 is received in the bridge 24 when thelatter descends along with the arm. 19, the plunger 8 and the float 10. The coi'iductors 29 constitute a part of an electrical circuit 31, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2, and including a source of electrical energy 32, and a signal 33 which maybe a bell, although a signal of any other hind may be used.

When the float l and the plunger 8 are elevated by the liquid in the tank 1, the Washer 16 is pressed against the lower end of-the' guide and the bore of the guide is sealed, so that the contents of the tank cannot escape, either in liquid or in gaseous form. W' hen the liquid in the tank has been depleted to a predetermined extent the float moves downwardly, carrying with it the plunger 8 and the arm 19, the casing 24: bridging the terminals 30 and closing the circuit 31, the signal 33 being operated to indicate that the liquid in the tank 1 has been drawn oil to a predetermined degree. When the plunger 8 moves downwardly, the

. cup '17 houses the flange 6 oi the guide 5 and there is no chance of igniting the liquid adj aoent the upper end of the guide. When the circuit is closed by the engagen'icnt be tween the casing 24: and the terminals 30, the teri'ninals lie within the casing and there is small chance of disastrous consequences arising from any sparks which may be produced at the time the circuit is closed.

The guide 22, being received in the opening 21 on the arm- 19, prevents the plunger 8 from rotating in the guide 5, and conscquentlythe casing 24 is always held in vertical alinement with the terminals 30 so as to coiiperate therewith when the arm 19 descends. The washer 1G, engaging the guide 5, limits the upward n'iovel'nent of the plunger 8, under the action of the float 10. The tube 7 serves as a protection for the float 10 and the plunger 8. The arm 19 may be lifted free from the guide rod 22, the cap 1 being threaded oil' the nipple 3, and carrying with it, the tube 7, the plunger 8, and attendant parts. The position of the float 10 may be adjusted by threadingthe same upwardly or downwardly on the part 9 of the plunger 8, the float being held in place by the lock nut 14. The amount of liquid in the tank 1 at the time the signal is operated, may be determined readily by placing a measured quantity of liquid in the tank 1 and then adjusting the position of the float 10 on the plunger 8.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a. container; a guide mounted on the container 'and including a portion projecting exteriorly of the container; a plunger slidable in the guide; a cup carried by the plunger and housing the projecting portion of the guide when the plunger descends; a float mounted on the plunger within the container; and means carried by the phu: for closing an electrical circuit when plunger descends.

2.. In a device of the class described. a container; a guide mounted on the contaiue and including a portion projecting into the container; at plunger lid-able in the guf" I, an abutn'ient mounted on the plunger and on gaging the projecting end of the guide to seal the container when the plunger ascends; a float mounted on the plunger in Spz l relation to the abutment and located u thin. the container; and means carried by the plunger for closing an electrical circuit when the plunger descends.

3. In a device of the class described, a container; a guide mounted on the container and including inwardly andoutwardly prr;.--- j ecting ends ;-a plunger slidable in the guide; a cup carried by the plunger and housing the outwardly projecting portion of the guide when the plunger descends; an abutn'ient carried by the plunger and engaging the inwardly projecting portion of the guide when the plunger ascends; a float mounted on the plunger within the container; and. means carried by the plunger for closing an electrical circuit when the plunger descends.

4:. In a device of the class described, a container; aguide mounted on the container and including a port-ion projecting e teriorly of the container; a plunger slidablc in the guide; a cup carried by the pin and housing the projecting portion of the guide when the plunger descends; a float mounted on the plunger Within the container; an arm on the plunger and coacting with the cup; a binding element on the plunger and engaging the arm to hold the same in coacting relation to the cup; and

means carried by the arm for closing an electrical circuit when the plunger descends.

5. In a device of the class described, a container; a plunger mounted to reciprocate in the container; a float carried by the plunger within the container; a laterally eX- tended arm carried bodily by the plunger and located exteriorly of the container; cooperating parts on the arm and on the container, coacting to close an electrical circuit when the plunger descends; and an upstanding guide disposcd parallel to the line of reciprocation of the plunger and mounted on the outside of the container, the guide ongaging the arm slidably to prevent a rotation of the plunger and to secure a closing of the circuit by said cooperating parts when the plunger descends.

6. In a device of the class described, a container; a plunger mounted to reciprocate in the container; a float carried by the plunger within-the container; a lateral arm carried by the plunger without the container; a base member on the container; conductors entering the base member; adjustable terminals as my own, I have hereto affixed my signa carried by the base member and engaging ture infthe presence of two witnesses. 4 the conductors; and a b0x- 11ke brldge mounted on the arm, the bridge engaging S 5 and housing the terminals when the plunger Witnesses:

descends. JAMES DONOVAN, In testimony that I claim the foregoing FLORENCE HETTEL. 

